Thai Massage

Some people come to Thailand just for Thai massage. For a long time, there were unregulated spots on the beach where you could go and enjoy a two-hundred Thai baht per hour massage on a table/bed right there by the sea – at most beaches. There were dozens of tables setup in some spots, and plenty of people paid the low fee to enjoy an hour of relaxing Thai massage while drinking a beer, a wine cooler or other cool drink. We enjoyed a lot of massages over the years this way!

Today you can still find Thai massage spread out over Phuket Island. There are hundreds of massage parlors, and you don’t even have to go looking for them – the girls will call you from the front of their shops to see if they can convince you to join them.

Thai massage, as we’re speaking about here, is probably quite different from what you’re used to in your home country. Thais massage not only with their hands – the masseuses also use fists, elbows, knees, and feet as they work out all the stress from your tired body.

Being on the receiving end of a Thai massage can be a bit brutal if you don’t know what to expect, and if you happen to have a very strong woman giving the massage. Instead of rubbing the muscles over and over like Shiatsu massage, it is more like stretching of the muscles and joints. You don’t have to do much – the woman will stretch you out and do everything for you. There are also moments where the masseuse will put an elbow into your back or leg muscle and just push. Honestly, some people don’t like it or enjoy it. Others live for it!

If you have some medical condition – like a bad knee, bad back or neck – you must let them know before the massage starts, otherwise your condition can be exacerbated from the roughness of the massage. These girls are often not well trained and might not be able to discern a problem on their own – so tell them, don’t be shy!

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